View from the Tundra (Minneapolis)

About me:
I don’t really know what it was, but by the time I got to college, I realized I didn’t have any of the creative outlets I’d had as a kid. But I still had too many ideas and thoughts in my head from my curious nature. I had to let it out. Then I discovered a camera in 2000, and I haven’t put it down since.  I’m not a professional (although I do shoot the occasional event), it’s just a huge passion of mine.  I have yet to take any classes on photography (although I did take a very quick and helpful course on how to print properly on my Epson).  My skills are built on reading lots of books, learning from every photographer I meet, and shooting a lot.  This blog has probably done more to advance my photography than anything, because I’m constantly trying to shoot something.

I photograph my experiences of the world – especially my friends and family, my travels, and the people I encounter along the way. This photo blog is about perspectives. It is both about life in midwest, and a midwesterner’s experience of the world. Some of my photos are art, some try to literally depict the reality of my surroundings; but all are meant to give a sense of the perspective through which I see my surroundings.  I’ve started posting my images to my Flickr account as well, but I don’t generally take the time to add a lot of description to the photos there.

I’ve also had the good fortune to travel quite a bit in my job as a marketer (although that is slowing down) and on my own (I’ve got basic needs, so that helps the budget - I lived in a room in Cambodia where cats were falling through the tin roof).

What’s up with the Tundra?:

The Twin Cities lie on a frozen tundra. At least that’s what everyone told me when I moved here in 2005. I’ll get frostbite by October for sure. I’ll develop an accent that lowers my IQ. Sure, there’s plenty of beautiful blonds; but they all got married at 15. The truth is, Minneapolis and St Paul are two of the most under-rated cities in the US. They’re spectacular. Who knew that only New York has more theater than the Twin Cities? (there are over 100 theaters here). Who knew that this is the home of The Jayhawks, Prince, General Mills, Best Buy, Target, roller blading, armored cars, the pacemaker, the Better Business Bureau, the first heart transplant, the first bone marrow transplant, the first shopping mall, the first super computer, and a lot more… But this is the nature of everything, isn’t it? That there’s another side to every story…

My gear:
I initially resisted the idea of publishing what gear I use, but I get a lot of emails on it, so here goes… I have been shooting with Nikon SLR’s ever since I started.  I’ve loved every one of them and have been shooting digital for a while now (although I think the quality of the black and white film I used to shoot on my F601 has a character that I cannot duplicate yet on digital, the digital is just so much easier and faster for me).  I’ve owned some bad lenses when I got cheap, and in the long run, probably didn’t save money.  I rarely use filters (other than a polarizer for blue skies, clear glass, or long exposure).  Adobe Lightroom is probably the best piece of software I’ve ever used (it makes it incredibly easy to work with and organize RAW images - Apple Aperture is probably equally good).   Some of the more surreal images you see on my site here are made through a technique called HDR.  I use Photomatix for HDR, and Photoshop for specific changes if needed.  I shoot and read a lot, and that makes all the difference.

There is no general advice I can give you, what to buy is a highly personal decision, and depends a lot on what you are shooting.  I do strongly recommend buying either a Canon or Nikon mount system, as this gives you access to the best glass, options, and keeps your system flexible for the future.  Note that I didn’t say you needed to buy Canon or Nikon, you could get a Sigma SLR with a Sigma lens, but just make sure it is Nikon or Canon mount lens design.   If you want to buy once and are serious, I would strongly recommend getting high quality lenses, there is a noticeable difference that you may not appreciate when you first start.  (Look at reviews through my links page for suggestions).  I would say that the lens you select is the most important gear you’ll buy, as it determines the limits of what the camera can capture (and your technique typically is more important than any particular camera, as long as it has the ability to change aperature and shutter manually, which is pretty standard on most SLR’s - and you’ll want to use an SLR if you are serious about the quality of your image).  Beyond that, if you are shooting landscape, HDR, etc - you need to get and use a tripod.   Click on the “tutorials” category that I’ve created, I’ve tried to lay down some tips and tricks as I’ve written the blog.

-Greg Benz
tundrapics@gmail.com
Please contact me with comments, questions, or ideas for new topics on the site.